Several years ago, I was in a business and worked with a guy who put in long hours and worked harder than just about everyone else in that business.
No “work-life” balance for him.
He was asked why he worked so hard. He answered, “Because building this business requires a lot of pain and sacrifice and I want to get it over with.”
And he did. In a few years, he accomplished what most people never come close to accomplishing.
Another friend did the same thing. He described himself as “a mono-maniac on a mission.”
Both of my friends started their business by taking massive action. And kept at it until their business was big enough and had enough momentum that they didn’t have to work as hard.
They had the knowledge, the people, the systems, the skills, and the reputation. They had ironed out the kinks and found ways to get the most out of what they had.
True, their first few years required sacrifices. You can’t have it all when you’re a mono-maniac on a mission. When you’re building quickly, as they did, everything else besides the business is a distraction.
A few years later, they had enough money coming in they could take their foot off the gas a bit and build out other areas of their life.
We’re taught that having work-life balance is important. Don’t work too many hours, take time to smell the roses, and if you don’t, your health and relationships might suffer.
Because we’ve been taught that most people don’t take all-out massive action. They build their business or practice pedantically, over decades, not a few years.
They go for a stroll instead of a sprint.
Am I advocating one way or the other? Not necessarily. Just pointing out that you have options.
All-out massive action might not be a good fit for you. It might lead to burnout, loss of friends, health challenges, and ignoring things that are important to you.
But if you’re the right person, and you’re willing to live an unbalanced life for a few years, you might achieve the kind of success most people only dream of.
And do it early enough that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor for the rest of your life.
How to build your practice quickly
